Device for assisting invalids into and out of bathtubs



June 1, 1954 ZANNQTH 2,679,890

DEVICE FOR ASSISTING INVALIDS INTO AND OUT OF BATHTUBS Filed Sept. 24,1951 FIG.2.

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INVENTOR.

HERMAN A.ZANNOTH BY W AQMfiM I ATTORNEYS Patented June 1, 1954 DEVICEFOR ASSISTING- INVALIDS INTO AND OUT OF BATHTUBS Herman A. Zannoth,Grosse Pointe, Mich. Application September 24, 1951, Serial No. 247,981

3 Claims.

The invention relates to means for assisting invalids into and out ofbathtubs and has for its object the obtaining of a simple andinexpensive construction of portable device which may be used inconnection with any bathtub, and which will enable an assistant with theexpenditure of very little effort to help an invalid into and out of thetub.

To this end the invention consists in the construction as hereinafterset forth.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device; and

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof as placed in a bathtub showing in fulllines the position of the seat for the invalid as overlapping the rim ofthe tub and in dotted lines a position in which it is stably supported.

My improved apparatus includes as an element thereof a type of fluidoperated lifting jack,

the construction of which is not a part of my invention and is thereforenot illustrated or described in detail. A jack of such construction ismanufactured by the Vulcan Manufacturing Co., Inc., of Winona,Minnesota, and is similar to the construction in patents to Nilson2,146,403, February 7, 1939, and Reissue 21,112, June 13, 1939.Generally described the jack includes a plurality of telescopicallyengaged tubular members A, B, C, the upper member A constituting anoperating member of a pump for forcing fluid into a common chamberwithin the members B and C, thereby relatively extending the lattermembers to raise the load. As manufactured the jack is provided with amember clamped upon the tube B which has a hook pivotally attachedthereto for engaging the load such, for instance, as the bumper of amotor car. Also the lower tubular member of the jack has a universalpivotal support on a base. In my apparatus I dispense with the pivotalsupport and rigidly attach the member C to a base member D. This ispreferably formed by cross members formed of channel bars including thelongitudinally extending member D and cross members D and D weldedthereto. The jack is connected at the point of intersection preferablyby threading the lower end portion of the member C, as indicated at C,passing it through an aperture in the member D and securing it byclamping nuts C The ends of the members D, D and D have rods or pinsDwelded thereto to extend transversely thereof with sleeves D ofresilient material, such as rubber hose, upon the opposite ends of saidpins forming supporting shoes. Thus the base may be placed within abathtub to rest upon the bot- 2 tom thereof and the resilient sleeves Dwill .prevent any scratching or injury to the tub. In place of thelifting hook, I clamp upon the tube B a member E for supporting a seatF. Preferably I the member E has welded thereto a metallic plate F witha cross member F at the outer end of said plate, to which members theseat F of wood or other suitable material is attached. Thus byreciprocating the member A the member B and seat F may be raised to thedesired height above the member C and base D. There is also provision ofmeans (not shown) by which the fluid within the members B and C may beexhausted to lower the seat.

With the construction as above described, it is obvious that a load uponthe seat may be stably supported provided that the center of gravity isinside of the supporting area of the base. If. however, the seat isturned (as is possible by the swiveling of the tube B on the tube C) soas to extend laterally outward, the center of gravity will no longer bewithin a supporting area of the base and, therefore, there will be lackof stability. If the base D is placed within the tub the invalid can beseated only when the seat F is turned outward to overlap the rim of thetub, such as indicated at G. In such position the device would beunstable to support the load. Such unstability may be overcome by usingthe jack for an additional function viz., a lever arm for holding thebase D from tipping. Thus the attendant when he assists the invalid tosit upon the seat F can at the same time take hold of the upper sectionA of the jack and with comparatively little eifort hold this fromlateral movement thereby preventing tipping of the base. As soon as theinvalid is seated, the seat F is swung inward over the base D which willthen afford stable support.

The seat with the invalid thereon is lowered by depressing the member Ato its limit which opens a valve (not shown) releasing the fluid andlowering the jack. When the invalid is to be removed, the assistantpumps up the jack to raise the seat above the rim of the tub, whereuponthe seat may be swung outward over the rim.

The apparatus as above described can be manufactured at very low costand is light in weight and portable. It thus has a decided advantageover permanently installed seat elevating and lowering mechanisms, whichare not only much more expensive to manufacture and install but alsoform a most undesirable obstruction to the normal use of the bathtub.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A portable device for assisting an invalid ing over the rim of thetub to a position within the same where it is stably supported by saidbase, said jack in the extended position of its telescopic tubesconstituting a lever arm by which an assistant may hold said base fromtipping when the center of gravity of the load on the seat is outsidethe supporting area of the base.

2. The construction as in claim 1 in which said base is formed by crossbars with the jack located above and rigidly secured at the intersectionof said bars.

3. The construction as in claim 2 in which said cross bars haveresilient shoes at the outer ends thereof for resting upon the bottom ofthe tub.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 766,320 Brown Aug. 2, 1904 1,889,925 Leininger Dec. 6, 19322,187,283 Scheutz Jan. 16, 1940 2,439,163 Farmer Apr. 6, 1948 2,582,586Dorr Jan. 15, 1952 l i FA

